Studded Jigsaw Puzzle

ABSTRACT

The jigsaw puzzle includes a baseplate used with attachable puzzle pieces. The baseplate has multiple upward-facing engagement mechanisms that are engaged with corresponding and complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms. The rear-facing engagement mechanisms and the complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms are designed so as to leave an access space between the bottom of the puzzle piece and the top surface of the baseplate to facilitate removal of the puzzle pieces. A prying object (pry tool, user&#39;s fingertip, toy, or the like) can be inserted in to the access space to easily remove the puzzle pieces after play, storage, or display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation-in-part application claims the benefit of co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/649,202 that was filed on Jul. 13,2017, which claimed priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/233,814 that was filed on Aug. 10, 2016, which claimed priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/202,910 that was filed onAug. 10, 2015, which are all incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to puzzles, and, more particularly, toa jigsaw puzzle with pieces having rear attachment mechanisms forattachment to a baseplate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Puzzles have an artistic and educational appeal as well as presenting anintellectual challenge. Typically, puzzles are assembled by matching anumber of interlocking irregularly cut puzzle pieces to form a planarpictorial illustration on the surface of the puzzle. The assembling of apuzzle by a child user enhances physical skills (hand-eye coordination,fine motor skills), cognitive skills (visual discrimination, sorting,classifying, analyzing, deducing), and emotional skills (patience with areward for completion) as well as providing play value.

However, storage of puzzles with an associated set of puzzle pieces isproblematic for parents, schools, child care facilities, and the like,because pieces often become lost or mixed with other sets of puzzlepieces. Storing them as a cohesive unit would be advantageous.

Display of a finished puzzle provides similar challenges. Though thepieces of a finished puzzle can be glued together or fixedly attached toa puzzle base for display (such as by permanently gluing the puzzlepieces to the base, thereby preventing detachment and allowing verticaldisplay on a wall), this operation precludes repeat assembly. Therefore,the skill enhancement opportunities and play value of the puzzle arelimited.

Further, a single baseplate may not be as large as desired, and itwould, therefore, be advantageous to connect two or more baseplates forenhanced play value. Or it may be advantageous to reduce shipping costsby shipping two or more baseplates that are connected before putting thepuzzle together.

Therefore, there is a need for a puzzle that provides amusement and aneducational challenge for the child user while providing pieces that areeasily attachable to create a cohesive unit for storage or display andare releasable for repeat play and that optionally enables theconnection of multiple baseplates.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a jigsaw-type puzzle that hasshaped pieces which are interlocked to form a completed planar ornon-planar front presentation (typically a pictorial or graphicalillustration on the front surface of the puzzle), but adds theadditional advantage that the individual pieces can be snapped down ontoa plastic studded rear baseplate for storage or display while leaving anaccess space defined between the baseplate and the bottom of the puzzlepiece. This provides the advantages that the pieces don't becomemisplaced between uses or fall out when displayed vertically. Yet, dueto the access space the pieces can be released for play again and againeither by manually using a prying object (any object that can beinserted into the access space between the pieces and the baseplate,including a pry tool, a piece of the puzzle, another toy, the user'sfingertips, and the like). Additionally, a hanger and/or joiner may beprovided for joining multiple baseplates or hanging one or multiplebaseplates.

The studded jigsaw puzzle system includes at least multiple puzzlepieces and a baseplate, plus may optionally include a separate pry toolfor puzzle piece removal and/or a separable hanger/joiner for joiningmultiple baseplates or for hanging one or multiple joined baseplates.

The baseplate includes a broad, planar base portion with front and backsurfaces extending laterally between lateral edges and extendinglongitudinally between longitudinal edges. The front surface carriesmultiple upwardly-extending baseplate engagement mechanisms, which aretermed “male studs.”

The puzzle pieces have a front and back surface and outer shaped edges.One or multiple puzzle piece engagement mechanisms are disposed on theback surface of each puzzle piece. Each puzzle piece engagementmechanism correlates with at least one complementary male stud disposedon the top of the baseplate. For example, a puzzle piece engagementmechanism on the puzzle pieces may fit between male studs on thebaseplate, may fit onto one or more of the male studs, or may beotherwise frictionally engaged with the male studs.

Importantly, the puzzle piece engagement mechanism and the baseplatemale studs are configured to prevent the bottom of the puzzle piece fromabutting the front planar surface of the baseplate. The puzzle piecerear-facing engagement mechanisms have a height great enough to enable anarrow access space or gap between at least a portion of the bottom ofthe puzzle piece and the top of the baseplate front surface. This narrowgap running under the back surfaces of the puzzle pieces facilitates thelifting of the edge of any selected puzzle piece away from the baseplateto disengage the complementary engagement mechanism or mechanisms andremove the puzzle piece. The access gap is less than one inch in heightand is preferably less than one-half inch in height. This removal may beperformed by use of any pry object, including use of a mechanicaldevice, such as a pry tool, or manual manipulation without a tool, suchas by use of the fingertip of the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide convenient storage anddisplay of puzzle pieces by allowing the puzzle pieces to be attached toa baseplate and to be released from the baseplate.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawingsand from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be describedin conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate andnot to limit the invention, where like designations denote likeelements.

FIG. 1 is an exploded front perspective view of an embodiment of thejigsaw puzzle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the assembledjigsaw puzzle of the present invention, showing removal of a puzzlepiece by a pry tool.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of the jigsaw puzzle ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along viewing line 4 of FIG. 3 of an embodimentof the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a detail view taken from circle 6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail of a portion of the side view of FIG. 7, the portionindicated by the circle 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a single puzzle piece of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a single puzzle piece of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a back view of a single puzzle piece of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a back perspective view of a single puzzle piece of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pry tool removing puzzle pieces of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a pry tool removing puzzle pieces of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exploded front perspective view of an embodiment of thejigsaw puzzle of the present invention including the hanger/joiner.

FIGS. 17-24 are left side, top side, inner perspective, inner side,bottom side, right side, outer side, and outer perspective views,respectively, of the hanger/joiner accessory of an embodiment of thejigsaw puzzle of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a side view of an embodiment of an embodiment of the jigsawpuzzle of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a back view of an embodiment of an embodiment of the jigsawpuzzle of the present invention showing the hanging function of anattached hanger/joiner accessory.

FIGS. 27-32 are top perspective, back, front, left side, top, and rightside views, respectively, of the pry tool of the jigsaw puzzle of thepresent invention.

FIG. 33 is an exploded back view of an embodiment of the jigsaw puzzleof the present invention including the hanger/joiner accessory and thepry tool.

FIGS. 34-41 are top side, left side, front, bottom side, right side,front perspective, back perspective, and back views, respectively, of apuzzle piece of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is an inner perspective view of an aspect of the hanger/joineraccessory.

FIG. 43 is an outer perspective view of an aspect of the hanger/joineraccessory.

FIG. 44 is a back perspective view of two baseplates showing the joiningfunction of the hanger/joiner accessory.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward ajigsaw-type puzzle having shaped puzzle pieces 500 that can be easilyattached to a baseplate 510, but that are readily removable due to asmall access space remaining under the attached puzzle pieces. Thejigsaw puzzle described here has all the educational value of aconventional jigsaw puzzle, but it additionally increases the play valueby adding a fun and easy means and method of puzzle piece removal. Itprovides the advantages of attachable pieces for convenient storageand/or display and of repeated use of the same puzzle due to the abilityto repeatedly separate the pieces from the baseplate. A pry object(including the optional pry tool, other mechanical devices, orfingertips) enables the easy detachment of the pieces after storage ordisplay. And optionally, a hanger/joiner accessory 530 for joiningmultiple baseplates 510 or hanging one or more baseplates may beprovided.

The studded jigsaw puzzle system 100 (FIG. 2) of the invention includesat least multiple shaped puzzle pieces 500 and a baseplate 510, and,optionally, a pry tool 520 and/or a separable hanger/joiner 530. Eachpuzzle piece 500 has one or multiple puzzle piece engagement mechanisms505 that extend downwardly from the back surface 509 (FIG. 12) of thepuzzle piece. When a puzzle piece is positioned in the correct location(or otherwise over the baseplate 510), the puzzle piece can be manuallypushed downward, and the puzzle piece engagement mechanism or mechanisms505 are frictionally engaged to complementary baseplate engagementmechanism or mechanisms, termed “male studs 515,” that protrude upwardlyfrom the front of the baseplate 510.

In overview, because the puzzle piece engagement mechanism 505 includesa downwardly-protruding leg 545 (FIG. 13) that has a height great enoughto leave a small access gap between the bottom edge 506 of the puzzlepiece and the front surface 519 of the baseplate, even when the puzzlepiece is pushed firmly downward. This creates an access gap 200 (FIGS.3, 5, 8) that remains between the back of the puzzle piece and the frontof the baseplate. When the user desires to remove the attached puzzlepiece, this gap 200 facilitates removal of the piece using a pry object,such as the tip of a finger, the edge of a puzzle piece, another toy, orthe tip 521 (FIGS. 15, 27) of the pry tool 520. The pry object isinserted into the access gap 200, which extends under the entire puzzlepiece and under any other attached puzzle pieces. When using the prytool 520, the handle 522 of the pry tool 520 is manually pusheddownward, which lifts upward on a puzzle piece bottom edge (typically,the bottom edge 506 of puzzle piece side flange 501), therebydisengaging the puzzle piece engagement mechanism 505 from the male stud515. Other pry objects function similarly.

The baseplate includes a broad, planar base foundation 512 (FIG. 6)extending left to right between opposing lateral edges 551 (FIG. 16) andextending top to bottom between opposing longitudinal edges 553 (FIG.16). The planar base foundation 512 has a broad front surface 519 (FIG.14), an opposing broad back portion 513 (FIG. 26), and, preferably, butoptionally, an outer baseplate flange 511 for strength. The basefoundation 512 is a rigid or semi-rigid sheet arranged with a number ofupwardly-protruding baseplate engagement mechanisms termed “male studs”515, such as projections, pegs, knobs, protrusions, or other couplingelements. The male coupling studs 515 are preferably arranged on thefront side 519 (FIG. 14) of the base foundation 512 in equidistant rows,but other arrangements can also be utilized. Optionally, but preferably,the male studs 515 are sized and shaped to complement the femaleengagement mechanisms of conventional modular building blocks, allowingthe child to utilize the puzzle baseplate as a building block baseplatefor conventional modular building blocks, as well as for a foundationfor the provided set or sets of puzzle pieces 500. Each of the malestuds 515 is configured to be frictionally engaged with one or morecomplementary engagement mechanisms 505 disposed on the rear of a puzzlepiece 500.

Preferably the baseplate 510 and the baseplate engagement mechanisms areformed of a plastic material, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadienestyrene) plastic, and are formed integrally. If needed for structuralsoundness, the back of baseplate 510 may be reinforced with plastic orother material as may be required for sturdiness. For example, thebottom could be formed with additional plastic added in a honeycomb,matrix, or striated pattern.

The puzzle pieces have a front surface 504 (FIGS. 1, 10) and backsurface 509 (FIG. 12) and outer, generally irregularly shaped lateraland longitudinal edges. A puzzle outer perimeter flange 501 forms anouter border running along all four sides of the puzzle piece (along thelateral and longitudinal edges of the puzzle piece). The height of thepuzzle outer perimeter flange 501 (at least at some points, andpreferably along its entire length) is less than the height of thepuzzle piece engagement mechanisms 505. This provides an open accessspace into which a pry object may be inserted.

One or multiple puzzle piece engagement mechanisms 505 are disposed onthe back surface of each puzzle piece. The puzzle piece engagementmechanisms 505 are sized and configured to be frictionally engaged tothe complementary baseplate male studs 515. The puzzle piece'srear-facing engagement mechanism 505 may be in any of a variety ofshapes that fit over or between or otherwise frictionally engage one ormore of the male studs 515. For example, the engagement mechanism 505may comprise an open female slot, may comprise a cylindrical with innerribs, may comprise a cylinder having an outer circumference equal to thediagonal distance between two male studs 515 to allow four outerportions of the cylinder to frictionally engage with four male studs515, may comprise other shapes allowing portions of plastic tofrictionally engage with one or more portions of the outside of the malecoupling studs 515, or may in other designs that allow frictionalconnection with or onto the male coupling studs 515, such as the squareshape shown in FIG. 13. For puzzles with smaller pieces, the preferrednumber of puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms 505 is four, asillustrated, but for puzzles with larger pieces, such as a preschoolpuzzle, the preferred number of puzzle piece rear-facing engagementmechanisms 505 is one.

In a preferred aspect, the puzzle engagement mechanism 505 includes adownwardly-protruding leg 545 (FIG. 13) that ends in a blunt leg endface 546. Preferably, the baseplate's male stud 515 is an open,partially open, or solid cylinder having a cylinder wall 556. Dependingon the design of the complementary engagement mechanism 505 uses, thedownwardly-protruding leg 545 may be an annular wall, a partial annularwall, or the downwardly-extending portion of another type of engagementmechanism 505, such as the open squared column illustrated.

The front of each puzzle piece 500 is a puzzle piece front surface 504,which may be planar or non-planar. The piece front surface 504preferably carries a portion of a decorative presentation (not shown)that provides artistic interest, amusement, and/or educational value,with the full decorative presentation to be completed upon accomplishingthe installation of all the puzzle pieces. The graphical presentationmay be applied to the front of the puzzle piece in any manner known inthe art, including printing, imprinting, embossing, embellishing,painting, adherence of a label or decal, or other application means, orit may optionally be incorporated into a molded puzzle piece. Generally,the shaped lateral and/or longitudinal edges and/or the displayedportion of the top surface decorative presentation may be used by theuser to determine which puzzle piece 500 should be positioned in whichlocation upon the baseplate 510 to create the completed decorativepresentation. Optionally, the puzzle piece front surfaces 504 may beleft plain and unembellished to allow the child user to personalize thepuzzle by creating an artistic representation of his/her own choosing.

The outer shape of the puzzle piece varies, depending on the particularjigsaw pattern chosen and on the location (interior or exterior) of thepuzzle piece. The interior puzzle pieces 500 have outer locking shapededges 508 on all four lateral and longitudinal sides, while exteriorpuzzle pieces 500 have outer locking shaped edges 508 on edges facinginwardly toward another puzzle piece and typically have smoother shapededges on perimeter edges 502 facing the outside perimeter of the puzzle.The puzzle pieces are shaped in a jigsaw-type manner with the innershaped edges 508 of one puzzle piece being the complement of an innershaped edge 508 of the adjacent puzzle piece. The outer perimeter flange501 (FIG. 13) is shaped in the shape (internal edge shape 508 orexternal edge shape 502) designated by the particular jigsaw cut designselected for the puzzle.

In contrast to a traditional jigsaw puzzle, the outer perimeter flange501 of one puzzle piece need not very tightly abut the outer perimeterflange 501 of an adjacent puzzle piece. In a traditional jigsaw puzzle,the interlocking edges are often the only feature causing the puzzlepieces to remain in place, thus a very tight abutment is necessary. Inthe inventive puzzle system, the irregular outer edges help determineplacement, but the complementary engagement mechanisms of the puzzlepiece and baseplate are mainly responsible for maintaining the puzzlepieces in their proper places. The small separation between the flanges501 of adjacent puzzle pieces facilitates removal of the pieces.

The engagement of the puzzle piece's engagement mechanisms 505 to theforwardly-extending male studs 515 of the baseplate attaches the puzzlepieces 500 to the baseplate 510. To disengage the puzzle pieces 500 andrelease them from the baseplate 510, the user may manually pry up theedge of the puzzle piece or use a pry tool 520, if provided.

The pry tool 520, best seen in FIG. 27, may resemble an artist's paletteknife. The pry tool 520 has a handle 522 permanently affixed to a wedge525 or formed integrally with the wedge 525. The wedge 525 has a tip 521which is inserted under the bottom edge 506 of side flange 501. As seenin the side views of FIGS. 30 and 32, the wedge 525 may be a righttriangle, with the lower flat surface forming a right angle with theback 527 of the wedge and with the hypotenuse forming the angled topsurface. When viewed from the top, as in FIG. 31, the wedge 525 narrowsas it reaches the tip 521, thus presenting a vertically and horizontallypointed tip 521 for easy insertion into gap 200. Thus, the top of thewedge 525 (and a horizontal cross section) has an isosceles triangularshape with blunted tip and preferably back corners, and the side (and avertical cross section) has a right triangle shape with a blunted tipfor safety.

The pry tool 520 may be formed of plastic, metal, bamboo, wood, acombination of materials, or other suitable materials. All edges of thepry tool 520 are preferably rounded for safety.

Preferably the puzzle system 100 also includes a hanger and/or a joiner530 (“hanger/joiner”), seen in FIGS. 16-24, 26, 42-44. The hanger/joiner530 has a back wall 539 extending between lateral and longitudinalperimeter edges 531, which, when installed faces the wall the puzzlewill be suspended from. This back wall 539 is configured with interioredges 538 defining a hanging hole 537, shown as a keyhole-type hanginghole, for receiving a nail, screw or other wall anchor by which theentire assembled puzzle system can be removably attached to the wall.

The hanger/joiner 530 includes multiple connecting members 535 that arethe counterpart of, and are removably frictionally engageable with,multiple complementary rear connecting members 514 disposed on thebaseplate rear portion 513. These baseplate complementary rearconnecting members 514 are illustrated in FIGS. 26, 33 as an array ofoutwardly-projecting members arranged on the baseplate rear side 513 inequidistant rows, but other arrangements can also be utilized. Forexample, since the hanger/joiner 530 is likely to only be engaged at thecenter of one of the lateral or longitudinal sides of the baseplate 520,a limited number of complementary rear connecting members 514 may bedisposed merely in the center of each of the lateral and longitudinalsides of the baseplate 520. Though the complementary rear connectingmembers 514 are illustrated as male projections, female receptacles canalso be used as complementary rear connecting members 514. In that case,the multiple connecting members 535 of the hanger/joiner 530 could beany frictionally-engageable male connectors that are complementary tothe female rear connecting members 514.

As shown in FIG. 26, when the hanger/joiner 530 is utilized as a hanger,the hanger/joiner 530 may be disposed within the ridge of one of theopposing lateral edges 551 or within the ridge of one of the opposinglongitudinal edges 553.

In another aspect shown in FIG. 44, when the hanger/joiner 530 is usedas a joiner, two or more baseplates 510 may be joined. In the aspectdepicted in FIGS. 42-44, the hanger/joiner 530 has two opposing concaveportions 534 defined by edges 533 inset into two opposing walls of thehanger/joiner 530, i.e. the two opposing concave portions 534 may bedisposed on opposing lateral perimeter edges 531 or disposed on opposinglongitudinal perimeter edges 531.

Also, in this aspect, the baseplates 510 may be configured with a flatedge portion 517 that is inset within the wall of the opposing lateraledges 551, as shown, and/or opposing longitudinal edges 553. When theflat edge portion 517 is inset within the baseplate edges, a firstboundary 552 and second boundary 554 is formed. The boundaries 552, 554are the ends of the walls 551 and/or 553 located at the opposing ends ofthe flat edge portion 517. It may be visualized that the walls 551and/or 553 are cut at boundaries 552, 554, though typically, the moldwould be formed in this manner. Thus, in this aspect, the walls of thelateral 551 and/or longitudinal edges 553 do not completely surround thebaseplate, but they are configured with at least one and preferably twoor more thinner, flat edge portions 517 along a portion of their length.The flat edge portions 517 may have a length that is significantlysmaller than the length of the edges 551, 553, but that is equal to orslightly larger than the distance between the two opposing concaveportions 534 defined by edges 533 of the hanger/joiner 530. To connecttwo baseplates 510, the two opposing concave portions 534 are alignedwith the flat edge portion 517, the multiple connecting members 535 on afirst lateral side of the hanger/joiner 530 are engaged with thecomplementary rear connecting members 514 of a first baseplate 510, andthe multiple connecting members 535 on the opposing second lateral sideof the hanger/joiner 530 are engaged with the complementary rearconnecting members 514 of a second baseplate 510. Preferably, as shownin FIG. 44, two hanger/joiners 530 are used to secure two baseplates510.

To use the inventive studded jigsaw puzzle system 100, the user obtainsat least one baseplate 510 and a first set of coordinating puzzle pieces500. The user assembles the coordinating puzzle pieces 500 using theshaped edges 508 and any pictorial or graphical presentation on thefront surface 504 of the puzzle piece for guidance. The user may alsouse designations on the baseplate top surface 519 applied to orintegrally formed with the baseplate 510, if provided.

As each coordinating puzzle piece 500 is placed, the user pressesdownward on the top surface 504 to engage the puzzle piece's rear-facingengagement mechanisms 505 with the baseplate's male studs 515. Though itmay not be obvious to the user, a small gap 200 remains between thepuzzle piece and the baseplate. If the user wants to remove a puzzlepiece for any reason (such as, a misplaced piece), a pry object may beused. In one aspect the user utilizes the pry tool 520 by slipping thetip 521 into the gap 200. The tip 521 may be slipped under an edgepuzzle piece or between two adjacent interior puzzle pieces and may beinserted from any of the four sides of any puzzle piece 500.

After the pry tool 520 is inserted, the user pushes downward on thehandle 522, which causes the tip 521 to engage with the bottom surface506 of the puzzle piece side flange 501. The pry tool 520 acts as alever, thus little force is needed to disengage the puzzle piece'srear-facing engagement mechanisms 505 from the baseplate's male studs515. This is in contrast to the much larger effort that would berequired to pull upward on the puzzle piece side flange 501, which isnarrow and difficult to grip, to disengage the complementary engagementmechanisms 505, 515. The same lever principal applies when, optionally,the user uses the edge of a puzzle piece, a toy, a fingertip, or anotheravailable object that is partially inserted into access gap 200 and isused to pry the puzzle piece upward.

When all the coordinating puzzle pieces are placed onto the baseplateand the puzzle composition is completed (FIG. 9), the cohesive puzzleunit will be able to be displayed vertically or stored in any positionwithout losing puzzle pieces. When in the storage or display mode, thepieces will not fall out if the puzzle is turned upside down, turned onone of its sides, or stored or displayed vertically.

After storage or display, the user removes the puzzle pieces with thepry object. When using the pry tool 520, if the user wishes to repeatthe assembly of the puzzle, the user slips the tip 521 of the pry tool520 under the bottom surface 506 of the puzzle piece side flange 501 ofan interior or exterior puzzle piece. The user pushes downward to removea first piece, shown as an exterior puzzle piece in FIG. 2. By thismethod, one, multiple, or all the puzzle pieces 500 can be removed fromthe baseplate 510.

Though the puzzle system is illustrated with forty-two puzzle pieces500, the number and size of the puzzle pieces 500 can vary depending onthe age and abilities of the user, whether child or adult.

The puzzle pieces 500 are preferably formed of plastic, such as ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, but paperboard, laminatedpaperboard, cardboard, wood, layered compositions, and other materialscan be used. Preferably, the puzzle pieces 500 will be injection moldedas one piece with a narrow space between the puzzle pieces 500 andnarrow bridges connecting the adjacent pieces 500. This will result inthe puzzle pieces 500 being connected like a web. The web of puzzlepieces 500 can then be printed in full color, such as on a colorprinter, and then the puzzle pieces 500 can be die cut apart. If needed,heat may be used in the die-cut process to remove the bridges and ensurea smooth edge on the puzzle pieces.

Optionally, the baseplate 510 may be made modularly and may be assembledinto the larger baseplate shown in FIG. 44 by the user. This modulardesign of the baseplate advantageously enables the use of smaller moldtools and of smaller packaging, which provides advantages in shippingefficiency and in shelf display. In this aspect, two or more baseplatesare obtained and joined by at least one, and preferably two,hanger/joiners 530. A first hanger/joiner 530 is aligned with the flatedge portion 517 of the baseplate, with the first boundary 552 andsecond boundary 554 of the baseplate edge aligned with, and fittinginto, the two opposing concave portions 534 so that the connectingmembers 535 on a first side of the hanger/joiner 530 are engaged withthe complementary rear connecting members 514 of a first baseplate 510and so that the connecting members 535 on the opposing second lateralside of the hanger/joiner 530 are engaged with the complementary rearconnecting members 514 of a second baseplate 510. As shown in FIG. 44, asecond hanger/joiner 530 is engaged in the same manner.

The invention illustratively disclosed herein may be suitably practicedin the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosedherein.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of using a toy comprising: obtaining afirst baseplate comprising a front surface and male studs protrudingfrom said front surface; obtaining multiple coordinating puzzle pieces;wherein each of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces comprisesshaped outer edges and a back portion configured with multipledownwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms; wherein eachof said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanismis frictionally engaged with at least one of said upwardly-protrudingmale studs; fastening a first one of said multiple coordinating puzzlepieces onto said first baseplate by engaging at least one of saidmultiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms withat least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs; wherein saidfastening creates a first access gap between at least a portion of saidpuzzle piece back portion and at least a portion of said firstbaseplate; and inserting a pry object into said first access gap with aportion of said pry object positioned below a portion of said puzzlepiece back portion and acting as a lever on said puzzle piece backportion to pry said at least one downwardly-protruding puzzle pieceengagement mechanisms off said at least one upwardly-protruding malestud.
 2. The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising fastening a second one of said multiple coordinating puzzlepieces onto said first baseplate by engaging at least one of saidmultiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms withat least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs and by engaging saidat least one shaped outer edge of said second one of said multiplecoordinating puzzle pieces with a complementary one of said shaped outeredges of said first puzzle piece; wherein said fastening creates asecond access gap between said puzzle piece back portion and said firstbaseplate front surface.
 3. The method of using a toy, as recited inclaim 2, further comprising storing said first baseplate in a verticalorientation with said first one of said multiple coordinating puzzlepieces and said second one of said multiple coordinating puzzle piecesattached onto said first baseplate.
 4. The method of using a toy, asrecited in claim 1, wherein said pry object comprises a pry tool.
 5. Themethod of using a toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said pry toolcomprises a handle with a proximal and distal end and comprises a wedgedisposed at said distal end; wherein said wedge ends in a narrowed tipthat is sized and configured to be manually engaged within said firstaccess gap.
 6. The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid pry object comprises a user's fingertip.
 7. The method of using atoy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said pry object comprises a portionof a toy.
 8. The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: obtaining a joiner; obtaining a second baseplate; andjoining said first baseplate to said second baseplate by engagement ofsaid joiner between said first baseplate and said second baseplate. 9.The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said firstbaseplate further comprises a back portion and rear connecting membersdisposed on said back portion; the method further comprising: obtaininga second baseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protrudingfrom said front surface, a back portion, and rear connecting membersdisposed on said back portion; obtaining a joiner comprising multiplecomplementary joiner connecting members that are complementary to saidmultiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate and arecomplementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said secondbaseplate; and manually engaging said multiple complementary joinerconnecting members to at least one of said multiple rear connectingmembers of said first baseplate and to at least one of said multiplerear connecting members of said second baseplate.
 10. The method ofusing a toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first baseplate furthercomprises a back portion; the method further comprising: obtaining ahanger; engaging said hanger onto said back portion of said firstbaseplate; and hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of saidhanger.
 11. The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid first baseplate further comprises a back portion and rearconnecting members disposed on said back portion; the method furthercomprising: obtaining a hanger comprising a back wall having interioredges defining a hanging hole and comprising multiple complementaryhanger connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rearconnecting members of said first baseplate; manually engaging saidmultiple complementary hanger connecting members to at least two of saidmultiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate; and hangingsaid first baseplate vertically by use of said hanging hole.
 12. Amethod of using a toy comprising: obtaining a first baseplate comprisinga front surface, male studs protruding from said front surface, a backportion, and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion;obtaining multiple coordinating puzzle pieces; wherein each of saidmultiple coordinating puzzle pieces comprises shaped outer edges and aback portion configured with multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle pieceengagement mechanisms; wherein each of said multipledownwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanism is configured tofrictionally engage with at least one of said upwardly-protruding malestuds; pressing downwardly on a first one of said multiple coordinatingpuzzle pieces onto said first baseplate to engage at least one of saidmultiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms withat least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs; wherein saidengaging leaves a first access gap remaining between at least a portionof said puzzle piece back portion and at least a portion of said firstbaseplate front surface; and inserting a pry object into said firstaccess gap with a portion of said pry object positioned below a portionof said puzzle piece back portion and acting as a lever on said puzzlepiece back portion to pry said downwardly-protruding puzzle pieceengagement mechanism off said upwardly-protruding male stud.
 13. Themethod of using a toy, as recited in claim 12, further comprisingstoring said first baseplate in a vertical orientation with said firstone of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces attached onto said firstbaseplate.
 14. The method of using a toy, as recited in claim 12,wherein said pry object comprises a pry tool comprising a handle and anarrow tip that is sized and configured to be manually engaged withinsaid first access gap.
 15. The method of using a toy, as recited inclaim 12, wherein said pry object comprises a user's fingertip.
 16. Themethod of using a toy, as recited in claim 12, further comprising:obtaining a joiner; obtaining a second baseplate; and joining said firstbaseplate to said second baseplate by engagement of said joiner betweensaid first baseplate and said second baseplate.
 17. The method of usinga toy, as recited in claim 12, wherein said first baseplate furthercomprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on saidback portion; the method further comprising: obtaining a secondbaseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protruding from saidfront surface, a back portion, and rear connecting members disposed onsaid back portion; obtaining a joiner comprising multiple complementaryjoiner connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rearconnecting members of said first baseplate and are complementary to saidmultiple rear connecting members of said second baseplate; and manuallyengaging said multiple complementary joiner connecting members to atleast one of said multiple rear connecting members of said firstbaseplate and to at least one of said multiple rear connecting membersof said second baseplate.
 18. The method of using a toy, as recited inclaim 12, wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion;the method further comprising: obtaining a hanger; engaging said hangeronto said back portion of said first baseplate; and hanging said firstbaseplate vertically by use of said hanger.
 19. The method of using atoy, as recited in claim 12, wherein said first baseplate furthercomprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on saidback portion; the method further comprising: obtaining a hangercomprising a back wall having interior edges defining a hanging hole andcomprising multiple complementary hanger connecting members that arecomplementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said firstbaseplate; manually engaging said multiple complementary hangerconnecting members to at least two of said multiple rear connectingmembers of said first baseplate; and hanging said first baseplatevertically by use of said hanging hole.
 20. A method of using a toycomprising: obtaining a baseplate comprising a front surface, male studsprotruding from said front surface, a back portion, and rear connectingmembers disposed on said back portion; obtaining multiple coordinatingpuzzle pieces; wherein each of said multiple coordinating puzzle piecescomprises shaped outer edges and a back portion configured with multipledownwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms; wherein eachof said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanismis configured to frictionally engage with at least one of saidupwardly-protruding male studs; fastening a first one of said multiplecoordinating puzzle pieces onto said baseplate by frictionally engagingat least two of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle pieceengagement mechanisms with at least two of said upwardly-protruding malestuds; wherein said fastening creates a first small access gap betweensaid puzzle piece back portion and said baseplate front surface;inserting a pry object into said first small access gap with a portionof said pry object positioned below a portion of said puzzle piece backportion and acting as a lever on said puzzle piece back portion to prysaid at least two downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagementmechanisms off said at least two upwardly-protruding male studs; storingsaid baseplate in a vertical orientation with said first one of saidmultiple coordinating puzzle pieces attached onto said baseplate;obtaining a hanger comprising a back wall having interior edges defininga hanging hole and comprising multiple complementary hanger connectingmembers that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting membersof said first baseplate; manually engaging said multiple complementaryhanger connecting members to at least two of said multiple rearconnecting members of said first baseplate; and hanging said firstbaseplate vertically by use of said hanging hole.